Living Like You Were Dying

Taken from the Live Like You Were Dying Daily Readings ... Week 4; Day 5

As we come to the end of this 30-day journey, we conclude with some thoughts from a young man whose life, even at only twenty years, resonates with the source of our study.

Michael Simon believes that the song, "Live Like You Were Dying" is sort of a theme song for him.  "I grab life by the horns and dont let go -- seizing the day and squeezing the life out of it for all it is worth.  Because of my mother's nine-year battle with breast cancer, I don't really take time for granted.  I don't leave questions unasked and don't hesitate to express love in any form."

Here is a young man who has lived for the last nine years considering each day in the company of his mother to be his last.  Three things he brings up here are significant conclusions for our study.

1.  Make the most of every moment.  It may be the last.

As we have seen, times is a precious commodity.  Michael realizes that and spends it wisely and passionately.  He is acutely aware of time passiing, and each new day he has with his mother is a blessing.  And this has been going on for nine years!  His example gives a realistic picture of what living like you were dying can actually do for you.  It puts you in a state of suspended animation that forces you to not take anything for granted but to be thankful in all things.  It is like a "time alert" that steps up all areas of alertness.

Jesus spoke of this mindset in Marks 13:33 when he said of his return:  "Be on guard!  Be alert!  You do not know when that time will come."  He is telling us to live each day as if it were our last.

2.  Live with no regrets - no unfinished business.

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 3:13-14).

Michael doesn't look back.  What has happened has happened.  He is more concerned with discovering the "what now's" of the present and the future than he is the "why's" of the past.  He doesn't leave anything unasked, and I have a feeling he's not waiting around for the answer, either.  Answers come to those who seek.  Michael has no regrets because he knows everything that happens, happens for a reason, and his life is all about wrestling those reasons out of his experiences.

3.  Love with urgency

Michael doesn't hesitate to express love in any form.  I would take this to mean that he shares his love for his mom in words, in deeds, in remembering what is important to her, in sending her notes and reminders of his love, in listening when she needs to talk, and being silent when the last thing she needs is someone giving her advice.  Maybe he takes her to places she loves where she can do what she loves to do.

And here's the final word and it's very important.  Michael lives this way in relation to his mother, but everyone else in his life gets the benefit, because this intensity spills over into all of his other relationships and responsibilities as well.  because of her, he takes nothing for granted.  Can you say the same?

Reflective Thoughts ...
1.  What have you learned as a result of this study?  How would you like to live differently as a result of these last thirty days?

2.  As we conclude this study, ask God to put you on a time alert -- to view life in slow motion so as to appreciate every moment for what it is.

3.  Commit yourself to continuing to meet with your group or even one other person weekly to remind each other to live like you were dying.  It's only as you actually face this possibility together that you can benefit from its perspective.